ICPC Arraigns Ebonyi Official For N61 Million Money Laundering

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Obasi Sunday, a staff member of the Ebonyi State Accountant-General’s Office, before the Federal High Court in Abakaliki, the stae capital, over alleged money laundering involving N61 million.

In a statement on Monday, ICPC spokesperson John Odey noted that Mr Obasi, a signatory to the Ebonyi State Government Shopping Mall Account with the United Bank for Africa (UBA), was arraigned on Thursday (19 February). He appeared before a judge, H. I. O. Oshomah, on two counts filed by the ICPC.

The statement alleged that Mr Obasi withdrew a total of N61 million from a government account in August 2020 in structured tranches of N10 million and N1 million, intending to evade mandatory reporting requirements. He also allegedly deposited N60,941,725 into the UBA account of Ikechukwu Obiukwu, a government contractor, in structured instalments to avoid statutory reporting obligations. The statement explained that the offences contravene Section 19(1)(c) and are punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. Mr Obasi pleaded not guilty to both counts. Following his arraignment, the court granted him bail on N10 million bond, with a surety in the person of the Accountant-General of the state. The surety and the defendant are also to give written undertakings to appear in court with two recent passport photographs attached. The court fixed 24 and 25 March for trial.